Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Lucas

Lucas is the Latin form of the Greek “Loukás” (Λουκᾶς) meaning “man from Lucania” (Lucania was a district located in southern Italy inhabited by the ancient Lucani tribe of Sabellians). The tribe either received their name from the Greek “lykos” (λυκος) meaning “wolf”, an emblematic animal who guided the tribe during their migrations; or else the name comes from the Latin “lucus” meaning “sacred grove”. In either case, Lucas became the medieval scholarly Latin form of the more colloquial Luke in reference to Luke the Evangelist, author of the New Testament’s third gospel said to be written around 60 A.D. Saint Luke was a contemporary of Paul, and the Gospel According to Luke focuses on the details of Jesus’ birth through his ministry, death and resurrection. His Feast Day is October 18 and the Roman Catholic Church recognizes Saint Luke as the patron saint of artists, students, physicians and surgeons (he himself was a physician). Lucas was resurrected as the more “learned” version of Luke and has since become revived among English speakers and many other Westerners. The name is currently most popular in Australia, France, Belgium, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands. But it also ranks quite high in Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Chile, England, the United States, Northern Ireland and Catalonia. We’re talking about a serious cosmopolitan favorite. Another little tidbit of data: Lucas is an anagram of Claus.

All About the Baby Name – Lucas

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME LUCAS

The number 11 is a Master Number, and embodies heightened traits of the Two. This personality is on a life journey to find spiritual truth. They are extremely idealistic and intuitive. Elevens have a rare and exceptional spiritual energy that brings a sense of obligation to illuminate the world around them. It's a very powerful responsibility, but these people have far more potential than they know. It's important that they surrender to higher ideals. They have the capacity to see the bigger picture, and they possess the skills to inspire others spiritually. Elevens have strong diplomatic skills and can become great peacemakers. Master numbers can be both a blessing and a curse, as they walk the fine line between greatness and the potential for self-destruction.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME LUCAS

Lucas did not become a commonly used masculine name in the United States until the 1960s. In the 1970s, the name gained steady ground and even achieved Top 100 status in 1980 before floundering a bit for another 10 years. Lucas would not only return to America’s Top 100 list in 1993 but today he’s closing in on the Top 25. Luke has traditionally been the more favored of the two names in the United States, but recently Lucas started beating out Luke in terms of usage. Part of the appeal is two-fold: the name has a distinctly more erudite sound that goes better with middle names, and it can always be shortened to Luke as a nickname (giving you more bang for your buck).

Quick Facts

ON LUCAS

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

23

PRONUNCIATION:

LOO-kas

SIMPLE MEANING:

from Lucania

Characteristics

OF LUCAS

Inspirational

Highly Intuitive

Spiritual Teacher

Extremely Bright

Uplifting

Truth-seeker

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Lucas

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME LUCAS

Lucas Beaumanoir is a character in Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 classic medieval adventure novel, Ivanhoe. Lucas is the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Templar, the Christian sect that excelled on the battlefield during the Crusades. As such, they were the football stars of their day, but Lucas goes a step beyond. As is so often the case with religiously ordained cults, the members have begun to see themselves as all-important and godlike, fully deserving of any and all spoils from their ventures. Taking seriously his duty to maintain the peace and restore a semblance of order to his community, Lucas is determined to do the right thing at all times. Unfortunately, principal over person becomes his modus operandi. If this means burning the beauteous Rebecca at the stake for witchcraft, so be it. This is a romance, after all, so Rebecca will be saved and Lucas and his knights will be banished from the kingdom. A good case against the cult of the cult.

Charlotte is main character Elizabeth Bennett’s best friend in Jane Austen’s famous Pride and Prejudice. A quiet and good young woman, she sets out to marry the pompous and rather ridiculous Mr. Collins (whom Elizabeth has spurned). She is not beautiful and she is twenty-seven years old – on the brink of permanent spinsterhood. Often rejected by modern day feminists as a mealy-mouthed dependent who settles for less than second best, she is in fact a strong, intelligent and far-seeing individualist who knows the score. As a woman of her day, her prospects are slim indeed, and only marriage can assure her a position of security and respect. She is clearly aware of the shortcomings of her husband, but she takes on the challenge with a clear eye and steady hand, and attains her goal: “I ask only a comfortable home.” She gives as good as she gets, cheerfully and determinedly, and if there were a sequel, no doubt we should find the Collins growing old together in comfortable obscurity.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME LUCAS

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Lucas


Popular Songs

ON LUCAS

Mad Lucas
a song by The Breeders

Famous People

NAMED LUCAS

Lucas Barrios (soccer player)
Lucas Black (actor)
Lucas Glover (golfer)
Lucas Moripe (soccer player)
Lucas Neill (soccer player)
Lucas Thwala (soccer player)
Lucas Turk (baseball player)
Lucas Luhr (German race car driver)
Lucas Arnold Ker (Argentinean tennis player)

Children of Famous People

NAMED LUCAS

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Lucas

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME LUCAS

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Lucas